Chapter 20
Twenty
Lisa had set up schedules for Adrian’s officers to drive by Erin’s cabin.
He looked over her work and approved it.
She’d done a perfect job. He and Lisa were both concerned about their suspect’s motive for attacking him.
There was no way to know if he’d be back, but until they could figure out why he was there in the first place, they were in the dark.
He struggled with what to say to his officers.
He didn’t want them to react hastily should they encounter someone on the property.
The idea that an employee from the electric company, just there to read the meter, could end up shot was a concern.
His officers weren’t really used to confronting criminals who wished them harm.
Eventually, he told them the truth but admonished them to use extreme caution.
He didn’t overemphasize the danger, yet he wanted them to know that, should they encounter someone on the property who didn’t belong there, they had to assume they might be armed.
In the end, he had to trust their discretion and training.
The truth was, someone without ulterior motives wouldn’t have hit him.
The nagging voice in his gut was telling him that this might not be over.
He also wondered if Erin would be upset with him when she learned the truth.
For now, he’d have to take his chances. If he and the officers under his command couldn’t keep one property safe, they had no business serving in law enforcement.
Besides, they weren’t that busy right now.
Sure, the number of thefts was up, but that always happened during the tourist season.
Although it would get more hectic later, since many people liked to visit the Smokies in the spring.
It really was beautiful here. Merle Hubbard, over at the Sanctuary Resort, had called again about more missing towels and robes.
He was losing his patience with Merle. Adrian had advised him more than once to simply charge the missing items to the guests’ credit cards, but he still called, wanting Adrian to know every time something disappeared.
He wasn’t going to send his officers out to track down people who thought taking amenities from the resort was expected.
It was silly. He felt bad that Merle had to keep replacing stolen items, but it wasn’t exactly grand larceny.
So, he just kept trying to soothe the enraged innkeeper while reminding him once again to charge their cards.
“You call Doc Gibson yet?”
Adrian jumped. He hadn’t noticed Lisa standing in his office doorway again. That woman should be on a surveillance detail. She could sneak up on anyone without tipping them off. How would she react if he suggested she wear a bell around her neck?
“I told you no an hour ago,” Adrian said, frowning.
“And what did I tell you?” she fired back.
Adrian shook his head. Another thing about Lisa—she was incredibly stubborn when she thought she was right. And at that moment, he wondered if he should have listened. His head was still pounding. He’d been swallowing over-the-counter pain relievers like candy. It wasn’t helping.
“You told me that if I didn’t call Doc Gibson, you’d call him yourself,” he said.
“That’s right.”
He raised an eyebrow and tried to look threatening. “And what did I tell you?”
She smiled beatifically. “That you’d fire me if I called him.”
“That’s right.”
Lisa turned and looked down the hallway. Then she waved her arm. Doc Gibson stepped past her and into Adrian’s office.
“What’s this I hear about you gettin’ a head injury and not comin’ to see me?” Doc said, his bushy eyebrows knit together like two hairy caterpillars locked in battle. “I don’t have time to do house calls.”
That was something Doc Gibson always said, yet he did a lot of house calls. Adrian pointed at Lisa. “I’m supposed to be your boss, yet you never listen to me.” He tried to sound angry, but he couldn’t. Frankly, he was glad to see Gibson. Maybe he could help.
Lisa shrugged. “You’re never going to fire me.
First of all, you know I’m right, and secondly, you know you can’t get along without me.
” She smiled at the doctor. “He was hit hard. Passed out, has a large gash on his head. He went to the ER and got stitches, but I’d feel better if you checked him over, Doc.
Don’t let him try to tell you he’s okay. He’s in a lot of pain.”
“Didn’t they give you a prescription for somethin’ to help your head?” Gibson growled at Adrian.
“Yes, they did,” Lisa said, “but he hasn’t had it filled yet.”
“I said I’d take care of it on the way home,” Adrian snapped.
Gibson held out his hand. “Let me see it.”
For just a few seconds, Adrian thought about telling Gibson to stay out of his business, but he couldn’t say that to Doc.
He’d been taking care of the citizens of Sanctuary for over forty years.
He was a curmudgeon, but underneath his gruff exterior, he really cared.
And he was a really good doctor. Sanctuary was blessed to have him. He handed Gibson the prescription.
He looked at it and snorted. “This ain’t gonna take care of your pain. Them ER doctors are afraid of gettin’ in trouble so they never prescribe anything strong enough to really help.”
Adrian had always wondered how it was Gibson made it through college and medical school, yet he still talked like a hillbilly. He’d decided years ago that it was best not to ask.
Gibson crumpled up the prescription and tossed it into Adrian’s trash can. “I’m gonna call the pharmacy. Your medicine will be ready within the hour. You leave here, go pick it up, and then go home, take it just the way I prescribed it, and lay down for a while, ya hear me?”
Adrian nodded. He had no doubt that he’d get relief from the pain that held his head in its viselike grip. His concern was being able to get out of bed within a day or two.
“You get that today,” Gibson said, wagging his chubby finger at Adrian. “I’ll know if you don’t. Jenny Nickerson at the pharmacy will call me if you don’t show up.”
Adrian gave in to the inevitable and just nodded. “Okay, Doc. I’ll pick it up.”
“And?”
He sighed. “And I’ll take them. At least some of them.”
Doc didn’t move. He just stood there and gave Adrian the evil eye. Adrian sighed again. “Okay, I’ll take all of them.”
The chubby doctor stayed right where he was, staring at Adrian as if he were a small child who’d just spilled a cup of milk on the floor.
“As prescribed,” Adrian said under his breath.
With that, Gibson picked up the worn, black leather medical bag he’d carried in with him. Before leaving he pointed his finger at Adrian one more time.
“When are you gonna grow up and come to see me when you need somethin’? I swear, you’re just like your grandpa. He made light of bein’ sick up ’till the day he died.” He grunted. “Bein’ manly doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek help when you need it, ya know.” With that he left the office.
Adrian leaned back in his chair. He wanted to feel annoyed at Lisa and Gibson, but he couldn’t. They cared about him, and although it was sometimes irritating to be ordered around, he wouldn’t want it any other way. They were family. Maybe not by blood, but by something much stronger. By choice.
Kaely punched some numbers onto a keypad next to the metal door. Erin looked away, not sure if she was supposed to see the sequence. She didn’t feel as if she belonged here. She wasn’t FBI or ex-FBI, she was just an ex-cop and the author of a silly book.
There was a loud click, and Kaely pulled the door open.
On the other side of the door, a large man stood.
He wore a police uniform, and his expression made it clear that getting past him wouldn’t be easy.
Kaely took out her driver’s license and showed it to him.
Erin quickly fumbled for her ID and held it out as well.
Then, not sure if she was supposed to, she showed him the badge Nick had given her.
The man glanced at them and then at their IDs.
Suddenly, his scowl faded. “You’re Erin Delaney?” His eyebrows raised, and he broke out into a big smile. “I loved Dark Matters! It was great. You’re the only author I know who gets it all right.”
Erin was so surprised, she just stared at him. “Well . . . thank you,” she said finally. “I’m glad you liked it.”
“Can’t wait for the next one. When will it be out?”
Never? “Not sure. Just finished writing it. Still has to go to my publisher. It might be a while.”
“Well, I’ll be the first one in line, waiting to buy it.” He hesitated a moment. Erin was pretty sure what was next, and she was right.
“If I bring my copy of Dark Matters, will you sign it for me?”
There it was. She glanced at his badge. Officer Brad Spencer. She smiled. “Of course, Officer Spencer. I’d be happy to.”
“Please, just call me Brad. Will you be here tomorrow?”
She looked at Kaely. “She should be,” Kaely said, “but if not, she can sign it and give it to my husband. Noah is working here.”
“The BAU guy?” Brad asked.
Kaely nodded. “You know him?”
“Sure. Everyone does. Great guy.”
“Yeah, I think so.” Kaely smiled at him.
“I have to check your bags before I let you in,” Brad said. “Sorry, it’s just protocol.”
There was that word again. Erin had a feeling she was going to hear it often from now on.
Kaely handed him her purse. He looked through it and handed it back to her.
Then he checked out Erin’s tote bag, which included her laptop and her phone.
She’d also stuck her wallet inside so she wouldn’t have to carry her purse.
“The investigator wants to go through my laptop and my phone,” she said. He probably already knew that, but she felt compelled to explain. Again, that odd feeling of guilt. As if she’d done something wrong.
“I understand,” he said. “You two go on in. We’re being extra careful today.
We got a tip that some reporter from a station in Richmond thinks he can worm his way inside the building and write a story.
” He shook his head. “I respect good reporters, but some of these people would actually put lives at risk for a headline.”
Kaely thanked him and walked away. Erin followed her.
Her gaze swept the room. Although she was aware that the command center had just been set up, it didn’t look like it.
There were groups of stations where people sat in front of computers and huge dry-erase boards at the back of the enormous room.
Also, there was a large area off to one side with tables and chairs.
Several people sat there, eating and talking.
“How do these people get food?” Erin asked. “I can’t imagine they go out and pick it up if they’re trying to stay hidden from prying eyes.”
“Sometimes they do, but most of the food comes from organizations and churches. Quite a few of them respond when law enforcement officers are working cases like this. Someone from the local police, FBI, or sheriff’s department probably contacted them.
” Kaely smiled. “Regardless of what you hear in the media, most people are very supportive of law enforcement.”
“That would be a good way for a reporter to sneak in, wouldn’t it?” Erin said. “They could pretend to be a church member bringing in food.”
“They’re not allowed inside. The people working here accept the food outside and carry it in. Unless someone in this building lets him in, and they won’t, that reporter from Richmond has no chance of getting through the door.”
A man walked up to them, his expression stern. “Can I ask who you are?” he said.
Kaely introduced herself and then turned toward Erin. “This is Erin Delaney. She’s here to talk to someone. Your UNSUB copied one of his murders from her book.”
“I’m Detective Herrington with the Virginia State Police.
I’ll be interviewing Ms. Delaney.” He stared at Erin for a moment, then said, “Would you follow me please?” He pointed toward the area with the tables and chairs.
“You can have a seat over there, Ms. Hunter. I’ll send her your way when we’re done. ”
Erin looked at Kaely, who shrugged and nodded at her. “You’ll be fine,” she mouthed, making sure the detective couldn’t see. Even though Kaely had warned her that she probably couldn’t stay with her during the interview, Erin felt her body tense.
“All right, Detective Herrington,” Kaely said with a smile. She met Erin’s gaze. “I’ll see you when you’re done.”
“Come this way, Ms. Delaney,” the detective said. His words were curt and to the point. It was clear that he was the kind of person who didn’t suffer fools gladly.
As Erin followed him, she was not only certain he wasn’t going to ask for an autograph, she was beginning to feel as if he actually believed she might be guilty of something.
Erin tried to ignore the sudden paralyzing rush of agoraphobia that whispered to her that she was shut inside this building with no means of escape.
She swallowed the sour bile that filled her throat.
If she got sick now, everyone would see her, and they’d think she was weak.
She looked back at Kaely, who hadn’t moved.
She was watching Erin and gave her a big thumbs up.
Erin wanted to respond in kind, but fear had tightened its tentacles around her chest, and she felt as if she might pass out.